Covid-19 vaccination programme

To start, a consignment of 10,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

Tomorrow's doses are funded by the Australian Government thorugh the COVAX facility and will be sent to Ha'apai.

Another batch of COVID-19 vaccines is expected to arrive around mid to late August, funded by Japan.

Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale 'Akau'ola says these vaccines will be used to vaccinate people living at Tongatapu, Eua and the Niuas.

According to Kaniva News, the Ministry of Health said the vaccinations were administered Saturday morning by the Ministry’s vaccination team led by the Minister for Health, Honourable Associate Professor ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu.

“His Majesty King Tupou VI, reigning King of Tonga and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine today, Saturday 15 May 2021, 10am at Vaiola Hospital,” it said.